Containerized exercise equipment system

ABSTRACT

A containerized fitness system for easy transportation and deployment. A shipping container includes a series of brackets mounted to the roof to provide receiving slots for accepting the flange of a series of corresponding support arms. The flange of each arm includes a pair of spring loaded pop pins that can extend through a pair of holes in the bracket when the flange of the arm is inserted into the slot of the bracket, and that can be manually release to allow for quick disconnection of the support art from the bracket. The other end of the arms may be connected to uprights positioned around the container to provide multiple attachment points for fitness equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to exercise equipment and, more specifically, to an exercise equipment system that can be shipped and deployed in combination with a shipping container.

2. Description of the Related Art

Temporary facilities are often required for government and commercial use in connection with disasters and special events. For example, in the event of natural disasters, civil disruptions, migrant populations, mass gatherings, or military operations, government workers, civilians and displaced populations need temporary housing and related facilities for extended periods of time. In order to provide and maintain fitness levels, occupants of the support areas often desire access to fitness facilities. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an exercise system that can be easily transported to and then quickly deployed along with other facilities at a remote site.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a containerized fitness system that can be easily transported and deployed at a site. The system includes a container having a roof that extends along a first plane. A bracket is mounted to the roof of the container and has a slot formed therein that extends along a second plane that is parallel to the first plane of the roof of the container. An arm having a flange may be positioned in the slot of the bracket and releasably coupled thereto so that the arm extends outwardly from the container along a third plane that is parallel to the first plane of the roof of the container. The bracket may include an inner plate that is positioned below the slot and that has a pair of holes formed therethrough. The flange includes a pair of pop pins that extend through the pair of holes of the inner plate when the flange of the arm is inserted into the slot of the bracket. The bracket may comprise an upper plate spaced apart from the inner plate by a plurality of side walls to define the slot. The upper plate of the bracket may be U-shaped to extend around the pop pins. The flange of the arm extends perpendicularly from a first side of a planar member of the arm and a support extends perpendicularly from an opposing side of the planar member. A bar may extend perpendicularly from the opposing side of the planar member and parallel to the support. A second planar member may be coupled to the support and the bar oppositely from the planar member. The second planar member may be engaged with a upright supporting at least one item of fitness equipment.

The present invention is also a method of providing exercise equipment that begins with the step of providing a container having a roof that extend along a first plane and a bracket mounted to the roof of the container and having a slot formed therein that extends along a second plane that is parallel to the first plane of the roof of the container. An arm having a flange at one end is positioned inside the container. The container is then transported to a predetermined location. The arm may be removed from the container and then attached to the roof of the container by positioning the flange of the arm in the slot of the bracket of the roof so that the arm extends outwardly from the container along a third plane that is parallel to the first plane of the roof of the container. The method may further include the step of coupling an upright to an opposing end of the arm from the flange and the step of attaching at least one item of fitness equipment to the upright.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a isometric view of a containerized exercise equipment system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a bracket attached to the roof of a container for a containerized exercise equipment system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bracket for a containerized exercise equipment system according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a bracket for a containerized exercise equipment system according to the present invention

FIG. 5 is an arm for a containerized exercise equipment system according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an arm for a containerized exercise equipment system according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of how an arm is attached to a bracket according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an arm attached to a bracket according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, wherein like numeral refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a containerized exercise equipment system 10 comprising a container 12 and a plurality of fitness stations 14 interconnected thereto. Fitness stations 14 are removably interconnected to container 12 for either storage therein or easy deployment when container is transported to a desired site where exercise equipment may be used.

Container 12 preferably comprises a standard intermodal container, such as a 20-foot or 40-foot long ISO container, that is manufactured from steel and easily handled, moved, and stacked using existing transportation infrastructure over roads, rails, and oceans. It should be recognized that container could be a custom designed container provided that the structure of the container is large enough to accept the exercise equipment and robust enough to support the equipment in the deployed configuration. In addition, the terms “horizontal” and “vertical” are used strictly for the purposes of identifying and most easily describing the relative orientation of the elements of the present invention in the deployed configuration and not to limit the scope of the invention to any particular orientation. For example, when stored in container 12, the present invention will not necessarily be in the same horizontal and vertical orientation as when deployed.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a series of brackets 16 are secured to the roof 18 of container 12, such as be welding. Roof 18 extends along a plane, which is generally horizontal when container 12 is positioned on level ground or appropriately leveled on uneven ground. Brackets 16 have an outer frame 20 having a bottom plate 22 extending in a horizontal plane and a top plate 24 spaced apart from bottom plate 22 by a series of vertically extending side walls 26. Top plate 24 is U-shaped and oriented with the open side facing outwardly. An inner plate 28 is positioned between top plate 24 and bottom plate 22 and spaced apart from therefrom to define a partially open, horizontal receiving slot 30 above inner plate 28 and a gap 32 below inner plate 28. Slot 30 extends along a plane that is parallel to the plane of roof 18 and thus optimally horizontal. Inner plate 28 includes a pair of holes 34 formed therethrough. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, fitness stations 14 are only coupled to container 12 by the roof-mounted brackets 16 and thus do not require connection to the sides of container 12, thereby avoiding the need for complicated mounting structures and leaving the sides of container 12 free of any obstructions. As a result, the sides of container 12 could have any number of doors, windows, or other structures without interfering with the coupling of fitness stations 14 to brackets 16.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, fitness stations 14 are removably connected to container 12 and supported in a deployed position for use by a series of arms 40 that can easily and releasably engage and disengage from brackets 16. Each arm 40 comprises a support 42 that can extend from bracket 16 when coupled thereto. Arm 40 extends along a plane that is parallel to the plane of roof 18 and the plane of slot 30. Arm 40 includes a planar member 44 extending perpendicularly relative to support 42 and secured to support 42 at a first end 46, as by welding. A flange 48 extends perpendicularly from the upper end 50 of planar member 44, and thus parallel to the plane of support 42, and may be held securely by a pair of braces 52. A pair of pop pins 54 are secured to flange 48 using hex nuts 56. Pop pins 54 are biased to extend perpendicularly through flange 48. Planar member 44 is additionally supported by a spacer 58 extending vertically between support 42 and a bar 60 that extends in parallel with support 42. The opposing ends of support 42 and bar 60 may be coupled a second plate 62 extending between support 42 and bar 60. Second plate 62 includes a pair of apertures 64 formed therethrough. As seen in FIG. 1, bar 60 may be rounded to serve as a pull-up bar for use when exercising. A buttress 66 and triangular panel 68 may additionally be secured between support 42 and planar member 44 to maintain support 42 and planar member 44 in the perpendicular orientation. Support 42, planar member 44, flange 48, spacer 58, bar 60, second plate 62 and buttress 66 are preferably welded to each other so that arm 40 is secure and capable of safely bearing any load when fitness stations 14 are used.

Referring to FIG. 7, arm 40 is coupled to container 12 by inserting flange 48 into bracket 16 under top plate 24 and between sides walls 26 until pop pins 54 engage holes 34 of inner plate 28 with pop pins 54 extending through holes 34 into gap 32 below inner plate 28. Proper orientation of pop pins 54 will allowed them to be biased upwardly by engagement with inner plate 28 when flange 48 is first inserted into bracket 16 and then to automatically drop into engagement with holes 34 when flange 48 is fully inserted into bracket 16 such that pop pins 54 align with holes 34 and extend therethrough, as seen in FIG. 8. Arm 40 may thus be quickly attached and secured to bracket 16 simply be pushing flange 48 into bracket 16. Removal of arm 40 is similarly easy, as lifting of pop pins 54 will release arm 40 so that flange 48 can be withdrawn from bracket 16.

As seen in FIG. 1, second plate 62 may be secured to an upright 70 that includes a footer 72 for engaging the ground around container 12. Uprights 70 may be formed from square tubes having a plurality of mounting apertures 74 for securing to second plate 62 as well as for attaching fitness equipment. For example, perforated square metal tubing may be used for uprights 70 to provide multiple attachment locations for different equipment and to accommodate uneven ground. As seen in FIG. 1, uprights 70 can be used to connect three bar ladders, a rope climb support, and any other desired equipment such as bumper plate brackets, gun racks, box jumps, etc. Arms 40 along with uprights 70 and any fitness equipment 14 may be stored within container 12. Container 12 may be transported to a desired location using existing transportation modes, such as a skeleton trainer, ocean liner, or rail car. Arms 40 along with uprights 70 and fitness equipment 14 may then be removed from container 12 and attached thereto using brackets 16 so that users can safely enjoy fitness equipment 14. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A containerized fitness system, comprising: a container having a roof that extends along a first plane; a bracket mounted to the roof of the container and having a slot formed therein that extends along a second plane that is parallel to the first plane of the roof of the container; and an arm having a flange that is positioned in the slot of the bracket and releasably coupled thereto such that the arm extends outwardly from the container along a third plane that is parallel to the first plane of the roof of the container.
 2. The containerized fitness system of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes an inner plate that is positioned below the slot and has a pair of holes formed therethrough.
 3. The containerized fitness system of claim 2, wherein the flange includes a pair of pop pins.
 4. The containerized fitness system of claim 3, wherein the pair of pop pins extend through the pair of holes of the inner plate.
 5. The containerized fitness system of claim 4, wherein the bracket comprises an upper plate spaced apart from the inner plate by a plurality of side walls to define the slot.
 6. The containerized fitness system of claim 5, wherein the upper plate of the bracket is U-shaped and extends around the pop pins.
 7. The containerized fitness system of claim 6, wherein the flange of the arm extends perpendicularly from a first side of a planar member of the arm and a support extends perpendicularly from an opposing side of the planar member.
 8. The containerized fitness system of claim 7, further comprising a bar extending perpendicularly from the opposing side of the planar member and parallel to the support.
 9. The containerized fitness system of claim 8, further comprising a second planar member coupled to the support and the bar oppositely from the planar member.
 10. The containerized fitness system of claim 9, wherein the second planar member is engaged with a upright supporting at least one item of fitness equipment.
 11. A method of providing exercise equipment, comprising the steps of: providing a container having a roof that extend along a first plane and a bracket mounted to the roof of the container and having a slot formed therein that extends along a second plane that is parallel to the first plane of the roof of the container; positioning an arm having a flange at one end inside the container; transporting the container to a predetermined location; removing the arm from the container; and attaching the arm to the roof of the container by positioning the flange of the arm in the slot of the bracket of the roof so that the arm extends outwardly from the container along a third plane that is parallel to the first plane of the roof of the container.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the bracket includes an inner plate that is positioned below the slot and has a pair of holes formed therethrough.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the flange includes a pair of pop pins.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of attaching the arm to the roof of the container comprises inserting the flange into the slot above the inner plate until the pair of pop pins extend through the pair of holes of the inner plate.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of coupling an upright to an opposing end of the arm from the flange.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of attaching at least one item of fitness equipment to the upright. 